Cup storage rim



Oct. 11, 1966 w. s. THORNTON CUP STORAGE RiM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. M104 5." WOW Filed June 19, 1964 o o o o o o o o o o o o United States Patent 3,278,014 CUP STORAGE RIM William S. Thornton, 204 Ella St., Lafayette, La. Filed June 19, 1964, Ser. N0. 376,462 Claims. (Cl. 20647) This invention relates to a storage rim for a conventional cup without any modification of the cup.

An object of this invention is to provide a storage rim which is designed in such a manner that it can easily be used in combination with a conventional cup.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a storage rim for paper cups and the like which is in the form of an annular member having a plurality of pockets therein for receiving compressed flavoring materials such as coffee, tea, lemonade, sugar, coffee lightener, or the like, together with a mixing paddle or stick incorporated thereinto for enabling the contents of one or more pockets to be flipped into the water or contents of the paper cup.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a storage rim for paper cups which is simple in construction, easy to use, easy to assemble and disassemble in relation to the paper cup and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane passing along section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, illustrating the details of construction thereof and the manner of assembly with the paper cup;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmental view illustrating the tear paper being removed for exposing the material in one of the pockets;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the storage rim illustrating the pockets therein;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the sanitary cover paper illustrating the structure thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the stirring paddle;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention in which the storage rim is attached directly to the paper cup;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan of the construction of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view illustrating further structural details of this embodiment of the invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the storage rim of the present invention for use with a conventional paper cup 12 having a head 14 at the upper end thereof. The storage rim 10 includes a relatively thick annular member 16 having a depending flange 18 telescoped into the upper end of the container 1-2 and being provided with a plurality of spaced pockets 20 formed therein with the pockets 20' receiving cubes of compressed flavoring material 22 such as sugar, coffee, tea, lemonade and the like. The upper edge of the annular member 16 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 24 and a covering and the sealing paper 26 forms closures for the pockets 20 with perforated weakened lines 28 being formed in the paper 26 for enabling the different pockets to be individually opened by tearing at the upper edge 30 of the paper with a notch 32 being provided at the upper end of each perforated line 28 for initiating removal of a particular section of the paper 26, thus enabling a stirring paddle or stick 34 to be employed for flipping the flavoring material 22 into the paper cup 12 which will be filled with water, either hot or cold, depending upon the flavoring material and the desires of the user. The stirring paddle 34 is provided with a concave upper end portion 36 which provides for easier gripping thereof and this portion is received under the sealing paper 26 for retaining the device in sanitary condition.

In use, the unopened storage rim 10 is placed on a paper cup and one or more of the paper panel segments 26 will be removed as desired and the materials 22 therein moved into the interior of the paper container either before or after water or other liquid has been placed therein for dissolving the compressed flavoring material 22 to form a suitable and desirable drink.

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 illustrate a modified form of the invention in which the paper cup 50 is provided with an upwardly and laterally outwardly offset rim 52 having a plurality of pockets 54 formed therein with the pockets being closed by a sealing paper 56 separated into segments by perforated lines 58 and notches 60 with short slit upper end portions 62 which is the same structure as incorporated into the structure of FIGURES 1-6. A stirring paddle 64 is also provided for operation in the same manner. This form of the invention is made directly into the paper cup and will be a permanent fixture thereof.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1-6 will be attached to the cup and removed prior to the consumption of the contents of the cup.

The device may be constructed of any suitable plastic or paper material equivalent to the material from which the paper cups are manufactured and the sealing papers may be plastic or other suitable material for maintaining the sanitary condition of the materials used in making a drink.

Other forms of the invention operate in substantially the same manner for producing a flavored drink with the particular flavored material being incorporated into the pockets during an initial manufacturing procedure. If desired, a color designation may be provided on the rims to designate the materials in the pockets. For example, a brown color may be used to designate coffee, while a yellow color could be used to designate lemonade. Other suitable indicia may be provided to designate the material in the pocket or the covering or sealing material may be made transparent to enable observation thereof.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, variations and modifications may be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the principles of the invention. Such variations and modifications are considered to be within the true spirit and scope of the invention, as disclosed in the foregoing description and defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A storage rim in combination with a paper cup comprising an upstanding annular member having a plurality of inwardly facing pockets adapted to receive material, said pockets being in communication with the interior of a paper cup for enabling the materials to be discharged thereinto, and removable sealing means for the pockets for retaining the material in the pockets in sanitary condition.

2. A storage rim for use in combination with a paper cup comprising an upstanding annular member having a plurality of inwardly facing pockets adapted to receive material, said pockets being in communication with the interior of a paper cup for enabling the materials to be discharged thereinto, and removable sealing means for the pockets for retaining the material in the pockets in sanitary condition, said annular member being telescopically detachably engaged with a paper cup.

3. A storage rim for use in combination with a paper cup comprising an upstanding annular member having a plurality of inwardly facing pockets adapted to receive material, said pockets being in communication with the interi-or of a paper cup for enabling the materials to be discharged thereinto, and removable sealing means for the pockets for retaining the material in the pockets in sanitary condition, said annular member having the pockets therein being integral with the paper cup and offset slightly outwardly from the upper edge thereof.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said covering panel is in the form of a segmental panel separated into segments by a plurality of perforated lines with the segments of the panel sealing the pockets until they have been opened.

'5. The structure as defined in claim 4 together with a stirring paddle extending into the paper cup and being sealingly engaged under the covering material for the pockets.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

MARTHA L. RICE, Examiner. 

1. A STORAGE RIM IN COMBINATION WITH A PAPER CUP COMPRISING AN UPSTANDING ANNULAR MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF INWARDLY FACING POCKETS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE MATERIAL, SAID POCKETS BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF A PAPER CUP FOR ENABLING THE MATERIALS TO BE DISCHARGED THEREINTO, AND REMOVABLE SEALING MEANS FOR THE POCKETS FOR RETAINING THE MATERIAL IN THE POCKETS IN SANITARY CONDITION. 